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An extremely exciting leg-spinning prospect, Mason Crane was just 8 years old when he decided to model his action with Shane Warne, after his enthralling show in the 2005 Ashes Series. Mason started his cricketing career at the impressive Hampshire youth system and has been a formidable member of the club’s setup till now. After joining the Hampshire Club at U-14 level, he quickly became a regular at age-group level, and aged just 18, Mason was given a callup in a T20 fixture against Surrey in July 2015. It was a dream debut for the spinner, picking up the scalps of experienced pair of Kumar Sangakarra and Vikram Solanki on debut. Crane enjoyed a highly successful year at the Ageas Bowl as he became the youngest Hampshire player to clinch a five-wicket haul in first-class structure when he finished with figures of 5/35 against Warwickshire. This resulted in Mason receiving his England’s U-19 cap in the winters of 2015. Although white-ball opportunities were limited in 2016, the Sussex-born continued to shine in red-ball action, claiming 31 Championship wickets in 12 matches. The wrist-spinner continued to impress in the county scene in 2017, this time, in both white and red-ball cricket, scalping 49 wickets in all formats. The excellent form resulted in his maiden national call-up for the mysterious spinner. Mason made his T20I debut against the Proteas on June 21st, 2017, and dismissed Ab de Villiers as his maiden international wicket. Next year, he was included in the 2018 Ashes Series, a tour in which he made his Test debut Involved in just one Test match, he had a forgettable debut in which he was taken apart by the mighty Aussie lineup. Due to a back fracture, he was sidelined from the Test squad. Although he couldn’t make a mark at the international stage, Mason is still very instrumental in the domestic circuit. Post Covid-19 outbreak, Crane was splendid in the Bob Willis Trophy picking up 14 wickets in five matches. (As of April 2021)
